Rhode Island Higher Education Training Consortium

The role of a leader is complex and sometimes ambiguous. Leaders shape the culture and the outcomes. Leaders can make the difference or make no difference at all. Leadership is one of the least taught subjects but perhaps one of the most puzzling and arguably one that needs significantly more attention in today’s dynamic organizational cultures.

I often ask my staff, my students and friends; will doing what you suggest make it better? There are times when we purposefully let situations play out so the participants in the scenario develop new skills, learn how their actions impact the outcome or just because there isn’t a better alternative. But when we do intervene, it’s important that we step back and ask the crucial question, will my intervention make this better?

Purposeful leadership is the act of exerting leadership towards a specific outcome. In this workshop, participants explore the dynamics of leadership towards a broader understanding of how different leadership interventions elicit specific outcomes. Participants will gain an understanding of their own tendencies and explore how to utilize various leadership strategies with their staffs, students, constituent groups and others.